‘Syria is Awash with Illegality’: UK Hid SAS Involvement in Syria to Avoid Being ‘Allied to US’

A British soldier demonstrates anti-terrorist tactics © AFP / Leila Gorchev

The UK doesn’t want to be seen deploying special forces with the likes of the US, an ex-UN chief told RT, suggesting Syria is awash with “illegality,” after the British MoD admitted its personnel are active in the war-torn nation.

Despite British MPs voting in December 2015 for ‘approved airstrikes only’ in Syria, the Ministry of Defence’s admission came after a freedom of information request relating to the death of SAS soldier, Sergeant Matt Tonroe, who was killed in March last year.

Former UN chief & humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, Hans-Christof von Sponeck, suggested that the UK does not want to give the impression it is “allied to the US” in Syria because of past ventures into Iraq and Afghanistan, which do not play well with the British public.

The Truth Is:

SAS involvement is never made known or, apparently, given approval by Parliament. Nor does it seem to be restricted by Parliament. 

Asked whether the US is essentially driving these decisions to deploy special forces on the ground, and not the UK, von Sponeck replied: “Of course,” but added that the Turks were also highly influential when it came to ground-force deployment.

Special forces serviceman Tonroe was killed along with two US soldiers fighting Islamic State in Syria, the Times reported. In a statement, the Ministry of Defence has ostensibly argued that any British ground forces operating in Syria act as if they were a soldier of the nation they’re embedded with.

“British forces embedded in the armed forces of other nations operate as if they were the host nation’s personnel, under that nation’s chain of command,” the ministry said.

Historian and journalist Mark Curtis has taken to social media to highlight the fact that British military personnel are embedded with US military commands around the world. He argues that not enough is being made public on the matter.

Mark Curtis✔
@markcurtis30
 UK military personnel are embedded in various US military commands. Hardly anything is public on this.  https://bit.ly/2SXFJ2p   https://bit.ly/2Ef2i8O   https://bit.ly/2tDCqOJ 

Former head of the British Joint Forces Command, Sir Richard Barrons, has suggested that numerous countries have been conducting “proxy assistance” in Syria without explicitly declaring direct involvement in military operations.

There are so many different factions and different secret operations groups working is Syria that it is virtually impossible to know who's side anyone is really on. Europe and the USA need to get out of Syria completely, not just the regular troops.

I'm convinced major military commanders are constantly looking for a place to practice their trade.